Species of the Genus Epomops. 103 



without brackets] or, not infrequently, with a distinct notch 

 at the middle suggesting an initial stage towards a splitting 

 of the ridge [indicated by "(Undivided)"]. In one single 

 individual the ridge is distinctly separated in the middle, by 

 a space about equal to the breadth of p 4 ; this individual 

 (Kradji, Togo) is in every other re>pect a typical E. f. 

 strepitans. 



(3) The palate ridges have been examined in four skulls of 

 E. buettikoferi, including the type of the species. In all the 

 third ridge is broadly divided in the middle. 



The fact that the condition of the third palate-ridge is not 

 absolutely diagnostic does not in the least affect the validity 

 of E. buettikoferi as a distinct species. It differs in other and 

 more important characters from E. franqueti. 



III. Outer Upper Incisors. 



Material, — thirty adult skulls of E. franqueti (both sub- 

 species) and E. buettikoferi; see table, p. 101. 



In eleven of these i 2 is present on both sides ; in five present 

 on one side only ; and in fourteen absent on both sides, i 2 is 

 present in all perfectly immature individuals examined (not 

 recorded in the table), but as soon as the individuals are full- 

 grown the presence or absence of the outer upper incisors 

 appears to be independent of the age. If the loss of i 2 were 

 entirely or chiefly an age character, we should expect to find 

 these teeth present chiefly in adult individuals with unworn 

 teeth, absent chiefly in individuals with worn teeth. But the 

 facts are not in favour of this assumption. Of the eleven 

 skulls with i 2 present on both sides, no less than eight have 

 the cheek-teeth conspicuously worn (marked with one asterisk 

 in the tab!) or even much worn (two asterisks) ; of the four- 

 teen skulls wi h i 2 absent on both sides (and their alveoli 

 obliterated) tw are only young adults («". e. full-sized, but 

 with distinct signs of slight immaturity), and four, though 

 fully adult, have the teeth quite or nearly unworn (no asterisk 

 in the table). 



To decide, with certainty, the question whether there is any 

 specific or subspecific difference in the deciduousness of i 2 

 would require a much larger material than at present obtain- 

 able. But so far as this material goes, i 2 appears to be 

 much more frequently lost in E. f. franqueti than in E. f. 

 strepitans and E. buettikoferi. The subjoined table points de- 

 cidedly to this conclusion, but it is admitted that the number 

 of skulls of E. f. strepitans and buettikoferi is too small for 

 generalizations of this kind : — 



